What is the problem?

Each day an estimated 50-70 trains pass through Voorheesville.  The blasts of train horns disturb sleep and conversation; reduce property values; and can contribute to stress and hearing loss. Since the 1980s the volume of train traffic in Voorheesville has more than doubled.  It will likely continue to increase as the economy improves, the population grows, and rising costs of gasoline make shipping goods by train more economical. Even those not living near the train are exposed to the noise when using the Village Park or walking in the center of the village. Trains are a part of Voorheesville’s history and play a vital role in our economy. They were here before we came and will likely be here when we are gone. While we cannot reduce the amount of train traffic we can do something about train horn noise.

What are quiet zones?

Federal regulations enacted in 2005 and amended in 2006, permit the establishment of railroad quiet zones, that is, areas in which trains will not sound their horns as they approach and enter the railroad crossing.  The regulations specify the kinds of safety improvements that are required for the quiet zones.  There are currently 492 quiet zones in the U.S. Prior to the regulations 1374 quiet zones had been established. Hundreds of communities across the US, many like Voorheesville, have implemented quiet zones that are safe, workable and affordable.  A quiet zone in Voorheesville would bring peace of mind, increase property values and create a more attractive environment in the downtown area in which new businesses could locate.

Are quiet zones safe?

In a quiet zone the engineer can always sound his horn in any type of emergency or hazardous situation, for example, when there are pedestrians, workers or vehicles on the tracks. All railroad crossings will continue to have gates, bells and flashing lights. Signs will be posted indicating that the train will not sound its horn. As shown by the Federal Railroad Administration, the safety upgrades that are required for establishing a quiet zone more than compensate for the increased risk that comes with silencing of the horns. A quiet zone would be SAFER than what we now have in Voorheesville.

What kind of safety improvements are required for a quiet zone?

Four of the most common safety improvements are:  1) adding 2 gates to an existing 2 gate system to create “four-quadrant gates”;  2) constructing median barriers down the center of the road  that extend 100 feet from each gate (less in some circumstances). These barriers prevent a motorist from driving around a lowered gate; 3) constructing “channelization” devices that function in the same way as median barriers but at considerably lower cost; and 4) installing wayside horns which, stationed at the crossing, create a train horn sound except that the sound is focused down toward traffic and is therefore limited to the immediate vicinity of the railroad crossing.  The above four approaches are known under federal regulations as Supplemental Safety Measures (SSMs).

What is the cost?

Cost estimates vary widely depending on the type of safety measure implemented. Every situation is unique; using the internet to research costs of existing quiet zones we have acquired the following  information:

Four-quadrant gates are by far the most expensive solution with costs in the range of $400,000-$500,000 per crossing.  

Median barriers cost from $30,000 to $60,000 per crossing, but costs could go higher to the extent that the road needs to be widened or redirected. Channelization devices according to one vendor, Qwick Kurb, cost $12,000 per crossing plus installation costs. Channelization devices, while less durable than median barriers, have been used successfully in northern climates with heavy snowplow usage.

Wayside horns can be expected to cost $100,000 to $125,000 per crossing according to one vendor, Railroad Controls Limited. The costs consist of the horn itself, installation, and tie-in to the railroad crossing circuitry, the tie-in being the most expensive component. There are also annual maintenance costs associated with each option. Maintenance cost estimates are not available at this time, except to say that costs for four-quadrant gates and wayside horns would be much higher than for median dividers or channelization devices.

What funding is available?

Efforts to Date

In March 2012 the Committee for a Quiet Zone in Voorheesville met with Mayor Conway to ask for the support of the Board of Trustees to explore the development of a quiet zone. He agreed to consult with Congressman Tonko’s office to see if funding were available and get back to us. Two months later the Mayor reported that there was no funding available.